Saturday, December 15, 2012

MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE TO THE STRIKE CALL OF CONFEDERATION


Circular From Confederation

Report from State Committees & Affiliates

Press Statement

Statement of Com.Basudeb Acharya M.P in Lok Sabha on 12.12.12

Notice for Confederation National Secretariat.

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL

    GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

    Manihsinath Bhawan

    A/2/95 Rajouri Garden

    New Delhi. 110 027.

    Website: confederationhq. Blogspot.com.



    No. Conf/20/2012 Dated: 14th December, 2012


    GLORIOUS RESPONSE TO STRIKE CALL


    Dear Comrades,


                    The one day strike on 12.12.12 in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands elicited magnificent response from the Central Government employees. As per the reports received at the Confederation Headquarters from the State Committees and Affiliates, near about 70% of the CGEs whom the Confederation represents is reported to have participated in the strike action


                    On behalf of the Secretariat, we convey our sincere gratitude and thanks to all our State/District/Branch level leaders and through them to all the members who participated in the strike.  We reproduce the Press statement issued by us on 12th which is reflective of the extent of participation state-wise and organisation-wise.  During the three months long campaign and mobilisation programmes undertaken by our leaders, we could convincingly bring to the understanding of the rank and file of our membership the pernicious impact of the neo-liberal economic policies pursued by the Government since 1991.  The employees could realise more than ever before the need for united, organised and sustained struggles and responded admirably to the call.

                    We were no doubt apprehensive of our decision to organise a day's strike sans the major section of the CGEs i.e. Railways and Defence Federations. We were also aware of the erosion of the efficacy of the Confederation came about in the background of prolonged confabulations and negotiations in the JCM sans struggles.   It, therefore, goes to the credit of the leaders of the affiliates and members of the State Committees that we could successfully overcome our weakness and bring about vibrancy and cohesiveness and enthuse our members for a decisive action.  The crowning success in our endeavour which was considered by many as adventurously risky in the beginning will embolden us to go ahead and chalk out much more intensive struggles in the days to come.

                    The issues which we have projected through this highly successful strike action are of paramount importance and require to be settled without delay. We firmly believe that in the action programmes that will unfold in the coming months, those who did not have the courage to walk along with us on 12th December, 2012 will join and this Government will be compelled to reverse its policies or perish.  We will ensure through sustained struggles and with unwavering determination that the PFRDA bill is withdrawn, the outsourcing, privatisation, contractorisation is ended; there are no informal, daily rated workers, the Grameen Dak Sewaks enjoy the  status, privileges , perks and salary of a regular employee;  discrimination on various matters like the compassionate appointment, overtime allowance, Bonus entitlement etc., is removed; that the Government employees enjoy the trade union rights, i.e. right to collective bargaining and strike,; that posts are created as per the work requirement; a decent career advancement scheme is evolved to all employees and above all revision of wages is effected through the setting up of the 7th CPC together with the merger of 50% DA with Basic Pay for all purposes.


                    We know there are innumerable problems, hurdles and difficulties.  We also know that nothing is insurmountable.  Let us with determination go ahead and intensify our campaign to make the next struggle, the two days strike on 20th and 21st February a grand success. 


                    We must record our appreciation over the efforts of the State Committees in organising Press media meet and conferences, which immensely helped in getting widest possible coverage for the strike.   We thank those comrades who could persuade the honourable Members of Parliament to take up our problems with the Government.  Our communication to the Political Parties, Central Trade Unions, Federations and Associations has helped in bringing our demands and problems within the knowledge of the cross section of our countrymen.  We shall intensify our efforts in this regard. The strike action was covered extensively and widely by the Regional Electronic and Print Media and as usual was spurned by the National Media owned by the rich corporate houses.


                    We express our gratitude to Com. Basudeb Acharya, Member of Parliament, Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha and a very senior leader of the CITU for raising our demands in the Parliament on 12th December, 2012.  His submissions as it appeared in the Lok Sabha records are reproduced. 


    `               The National Secretariat of the Confederation will meet on 2nd January, 2013 at New Delhi.  Notice is issued separately and copy is enclosed.   We shall review the strike participation at the meeting with a view to remove the weakness manifested in certain areas during this struggle.  To help us to evolve the appropriate strategy to make the future struggles significantly of a higher dimension we request you to kindly favour us with a report in the following format.


    For State Committees:

                   

    1.       Name of the State.

    2.       Names of associations/Federations, which participated in the strike with percentage of participation.

    3.       Name of the Associations/Federations, which did not take part in the strike.

    4.       Names of those organisations which participated in the strike whose CHQ had not taken part in the action.

    5.       Name of the Stations visited by the State leaders as part of the campaign.


    For Affiliates.


    1.       Name of the Federation/All India association.

    2.       Number of Unit/.branches,

    3.       Names of the Units which participated in the strike with the percentage of participation.

    4.       Names of the Units which did not take part in the strike.

    5.       Specific reasons advanced by the Units for non participation.

    6.       Names of the Units visited by the Leaders.

    With greetings,

    Yours fraternally,



    K.K.N. Kutty

    Secretary General.


    Enc:

    Press Statement and Statement of Com. Basudeb Acharya, M.P.







    P R E S S     S T A T E M E N T


    Dated: 12th December, 2012


    Nearly Ten lakhs Central Government employees took part in the one day token strike today, the 12th December, 2012 on the call of the Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, paralyzing the governmental functions in various departments throughout the country.  The strike was to protest against the continued efforts of the Government to enact the PFRDA Bill, whereby the existing defined benefit pension of Government employees is sought to be converted into a defined contributory pension scheme.  Every reason, the Government advanced at the time of the introduction of the new scheme is found to be incorrect and misleading by the Experts Committee set up by the Government itself.


    Besides, the employees had been demanding wage revision by setting up the 7th Central Pay Commission, filling up large number of vacant posts, regularization of the service of Grameen Dak Sewaks/Casual/daily-rated workers, revival of the negotiating machinery i.e. JCM, removal of restrictions on compassionate appointments, introduction of Public Distribution system to arrest the ever increasing prices of essential commodities, stoppage of outsourcing, contractorisation, privatization etc. 


    As per the report received the strike was total in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and beyond 80% in Maharashtra, Karnataka, U.P. Bihar, and about 60% in other States.  The Postal, Income tax, Groundwater Board departments came to a grinding halt in all States,  as the offices could not be opened at all. In Income tax Department, the promotee officers also joined the strike paving way of a complete closure.  Many establishments of Atomic Energy, Printing and Stationery, Defence accounts, Medical Depots, Audit and Accounts  Departments, Civil Accounts, CGHS, Indian Bureau of Mines, Directorate of Marketing Inspection, Geological Survey of India, Archaeological  and Botanical Survey of India etc. remained closed. 


    The organizers of the Strike have asserted that they will make the general strike of workers slated for 20th and 21st February, 2013 a grand success by enlisting participation of  all sections of the Central Government employees. 


    The Confederation will strive to organize an indefinite strike in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands in 2013 if no settlement is brought about by the Government by then. 



                                                                               

    Statement made by Com. Basudeb Acharya in Lok Sabha on 12.12.12


    SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Chairman, Sir today, about one million of Central Government employees are on strike.....(interruptions) The employees' organisations in Postal, Income tax, Audit, Accounts, Printing and Stationery, Geological Survey of India, Customs, Central Excise, Indian Bureau of Mines, CGHS, Ground Water Board, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works, Census, Defence Accounts, Indian Space Research Organisation, Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry Administrations and Medical Stores Depot are on strike..............(interruption)


    Their demand is the constitution of Seventh Pay Commission....(Interruptions) It is due from Ist January, 2011 but the Government of India has not yet constituted the Seventh Pay Commission to consider the revision of Pay and allowances  to the Central Government employees.  They are agitating....(Interruptions)  After acceptance of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, there are several anomalies in their pay scales.  A Committee was constituted but that committee has failed to address the problem of anomalies in regard to their pay scales.........(interruptions)


    Mr. Chairman. Hon. Members, Please go back to your seats.  Other Hon. Members are raising their issues. ...(.Interruptions.)

    Mr.Chairman:  Hon. Members, I will call your leader.  Please take your seats...........(Interruptions)


    SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA (BANKURA).  Sir, there is a joint consultative machinery to address the problem of Central Government employees but this JCM has become non functional...........(Interruptions) Their meetings are not being held.  As a result of that, the problems of Central Government employees are not being resolved. .............(Interruptions)


    Mr. Chairman.  Shri P.K. Biju is associating with the matter raised by Shri Basu Deb Acharia. 


    O0o


    CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL

    GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

    Manihsinath Bhawan

    A/2/95 Rajouri Garden

    New Delhi. 110 027.

    Website: confederationhq. Blogspot.com.



    Dated: 14th December, 2012

    Notice


    Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the National Secretariat on 2nd January, 2013 at Manishinath Bhawan, New Delhi. 110027.  The meeting will commence at 14.30 hours.  The following shall be the

     agenda for discussion.


    1.       Review of the participation in the 12th December, 2012 strike and steps to be taken to enlist the participation of certain organisation in the future struggles.

    2.       The campaign programme for the 20th and 21st two days strike action.

    3.       Finalisation of the venue for the national conference of the Confederation.

    4.       Any other matter with the permission of the chair.

    K.K.N. Kutty
    Secretary General

    To

    All the Secretariat members.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

GLORIOUS STRIKE BY CG EMPLOYEES - PRESS RELEASE BY CONFEDERATION HQ


CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 

EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

Manishinath Bhawan, A2/95 Rajourigarden New Delhi-10027

website: confederationhq.blogspot. com.


 

P R E S S     S T A T E M E N T

 

Dated: 12th December, 2012

 

Nearly Ten lakhs Central Government employees took part in the one day token strike today, the 12th December, 2012 on the call of the Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, paralyzing the governmental functions in various departments throughout the country.  The strike was to protest against the continued efforts of the Government to enact the PFRDA Bill, whereby the existing defined benefit pension of Government employees is sought to be converted into a defined contributory pension scheme.  Every reason, the Government advanced at the time of the introduction of the new scheme is found to be incorrect and misleading by the Experts Committee set up by the Government itself.

 

Besides, the employees had been demanding wage revision by setting up the 7th Central Pay Commission, filling up large number of vacant posts, regularization of the service of Grameen Dak Sewaks/Casual/daily-rated workers, revival of the negotiating machinery i.e. JCM, removal of restrictions on compassionate appointments, introduction of Public Distribution system to arrest the ever increasing prices of essential commodities, stoppage of outsourcing, contractorisation, privatization etc. 

 

As per the report received the strike was total in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and beyond 80% in Maharashtra, Karnataka, U.P. Bihar, and about 60% in other States.  The Postal, Income tax, Groundwater Board departments came to a grinding halt in all States,  as the offices could not be opened at all. In Income tax Department, the promotee officers also joined the strike paving way of a complete closure.  Many establishments of Atomic Energy, Printing and Stationery, Defence accounts, Medical Depots, Audit and Accounts  Departments, Civil Accounts, CGHS, Indian Bureau of Mines, Directorate of Marketing Inspection, Geological Survey of India, Archaeological  and Botanical Survey of India etc. remained closed. 

 

The organizers of the Strike have asserted that they will make the general strike of workers slated for 20th and 21st February, 2013 a grand success by enlisting participation of  all sections of the Central Government employees. 

 

The Confederation will strive to organize an indefinite strike in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands in 2013 if no settlement is brought about by the Government by then.  

 


K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

To  All The Chief Reporters, and Editors  for favour of publication.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

12.12.12 STRIKE - PRESS STATEMENT BY CONFEDERATION

 
CONFEDERATION RELEASES PRESS STATEMENT TODAY ON 12.12.12 STRIKE
 
STATE COMMITTEES AND  ORGANISATIONS AT ALL LEVELS ARE REQUESTED TO ISSUE SIMILAR PRESS RELEASES TO LOCAL PRESS
 
USE ALL MEDIA POWER TO HIGHLIGHT OUR DEMANDS AND STRIKE
 
MOBILIZE IN FULL SWING FOR TOTAL SUCCESS OF TOMORROW'S STRIKE
 
 

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

Manihsinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden

New Delhi. 110 027.

Website: confederationhq. Blogspot.com.

E mail:confederation06@yahoo.co.in.

 

Dated: 11th  December, 2012

D/14/2012(1)

PRESS  STATEMENT

 

            About a million Central Government employees will take part in the one day token strike tomorrow, the 12th December, 2012.  The employees organisations in the Postal, Income-tax, Audit and Accounts, Printing and Stationery, Geological Survey of India, Survey of India, Customs, Central Excise,  Indian Bureau of Mines, CGHS, Ground Water Board, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works, Census, Atomic Energy Commission, Defence Accounts, Indian Space Research Organisation, Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry Administration, Medical Stores depot and many other Public Utility Departments of the Government of India have confirmed their participation in the strike action.  The strike is organised by the apex level Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers, New Delhi on the basis of the strike notice served on 19.11.2012 for a settlement of the 15 Point charter of demands (copy enclosed)

 

            The Central Government employees throughout the country are agitated over the Government's fresh move to enact the PFRDA Bill in this session of the Parliament.  It is surprising that even after the uncontested findings of the Committee set up by the Government that the new Contributory Pension Scheme will only increase financial outflow for the Government and the beneficiaries also stand to lose heavily on account of it, the Government has chosen to go ahead with the New Scheme.  The recent decision of the Government to allow FDI in pension sector will only further help the transnational corporation to access to the hard earned savings of the Indian Common people to maximise their profit.

 

            Apart from scrapping the New Pension scheme, the employees are demanding the setting up of the 7th Central Pay Commission for wage revision, reintroduction of the Universal Public Distribution system stoppage of outsourcing of Governmental functions, contractorisation, privatisation etc. regularisation of Grameen Dak Sewaks, contingent, casual and daily rated workers, lifting the ban on creation of posts, filling up the vacant posts  revival of the negotiating forum, JCM etc.

 

            Due to the breakdown of the negotiating machinery, there had been no dialogue between the Government and the employees for the past several years.  The employees are extremely critical of the attitude of the Government using  the sovereignty of the Parliament to reject the award given in favour of the workers by the Board of Arbitration which is not only contrary to the terms of arbitration but unethical too.  The continuing vindictive attitude of the C& AG administration against the employees and union functionaries for normal and peaceful trade union activities is highly deplorable. 


            If the Government refuses to take note of the resentment and initiate steps to bring about settlement, the agitation is bound to escalate in the form of indefinite strike action encompassing even other section of the employees. 

 

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General.

To the Chief Reporters/Editors for favour of publication in your esteemed New paper.

 

CHARTER OF DEMANDS.


1. Revise the wages of the Central Government employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks with effect from 1.1.2011 and every five years thereafter by setting up the 7th CPC.

2. Merge DA with pay for all purposes with effect from. 1.1.2011 including for Gramin Dak Sewaks.

3. Remove restriction imposed on compassionate appointments and the discrimination on such appointments between the Railway workers and other Central Govt. employees.

4. (a) Departmentalise all Grameen Dak Sewaks and grant them all benefits of regular employees; End Bonus discrimination and enhance bonus ceiling to 3500/-; withdraw open market recruitment in Postman / MTS cadre; Revise cash handling norms; Grant full protection of TRCA; Grant Time Bound Promotion and Medical Reimbursement facility etc,

(b) Regularise the daily rated, contingent, casual workers and introduce a permanent scheme for periodical regularization. Pending regularization, provide them with pro-rata salary at 6th CPC rates.

5. (a) Revive the functioning of the JCM. Convene the meeting of the Departmental Councils in all Ministries/Departments. Settle the anomalies raised in the National Anomaly Committee as also in the Departmental Anomaly Committees. Hold National Council meetings as specified in the JCM constitution. (b) Remove the anomalies in the MACP Scheme.(c) Grant recognition to all Associations/Federations, which have complied with the formalities and conditions stipulated in the CCS(RSA) Rules.

6. Fill up all vacant posts and creates posts n functional requirements.

7. Stop downsizing outsourcing, contractorization, corporatization and privatisation of Governmental functions.

8.Stop price rise; strengthen the PDS.

9. (a) Stop the proposal to introduce the productivity linked wage system; (b) discard the performance related pay structure; (c) introduce PLB in all Departments; (d) remove the ceiling on emoluments for bonus computation.

10. Revise the OTA, Night duty allowance and clothing rates.

11. Implement all arbitration awards;

12. Make the right to strike a legal and fundamental right of the Government employees on par with the other section of the working class.

13. Grant Five promotions to all employees as is provided for in the case of Group A services.

14. (a) Withdraw the PFRDA Bill. (b) Rescind the decision to allow FDI in pension sector;(c) Scrap the new contributory pension scheme (d) Extend the existing statutory defined pension scheme to all Central Govt. employees irrespective of their date of entry in Government service.

15. Vacate all Trade Union victimisation, and more specifically in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department